Corpusfishing.com

Repoman911 · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:47 pm Post subject: Bioluminesecent waves

I was out on Quintana beach at the mouth of the river last night. We left around midnight and witnessed an amazing bioluminesecent display in the crashing waves. I did a little research today and I'm finding a lot of that can be linked to a red tide.

Can the glowing waves happen independantly from RT or is it always an indicator?

shallowsport · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject:

Good question. Do know that there are sea creatures that when touched will illuminate. Have had my wading path highlighted at times. Never heard of the correlation with red tide.

Jellyfish · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:08 pm Post subject:

The first time I ever observed bioilluminescense was in the summer of 1973 in Corpus Christi Bay. I don't recall there being any red tide or fish kills at that time. It's an amazing sight especially being able to see the fish swimming away from your boat at night.
_________________
E Pluribus Unum

want2fish · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:21 pm Post subject:

I always thought it was phosphorus that made the waves glow. Used to go night surfing back in the day when it was glowing.

SaltyMutt · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject:

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

Not always related to red tide. A lot of different things in the bay luminesce on contact, from algae to ctenophores.

I've seen fantastic bioluminescence in our bays over the last few years. In the padre canals on calm nights in the summer time is particularly great. The BEST light show I've seen by far is by the pipes that drain the sewage treatment plant at the end of white cap (go figure!). Paddled by there one calm night when there was no moon and the colors were like a scene from fantasia.
_________________
...if my boss ever finds this forum I'll be unemployed...

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Texican · Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:38 am Post subject:

The best example I have ever seen personally is the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo Puerto Rico.
It was... AMAZING!
_________________
"Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail." - Kinky Friedman

PS: Screw you Photobucket!

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1118

See it on PINS all the time, your footprints in the wet sand glow.

My niece and nephew ran themselves ragged one night making footprints. Wink

Brine · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Nov 2009 Posts: 135

Video lecture on the topic --

http://www.ted.com/talks/edith_widder_glowing_life_in_an_underwater_world.html?quote=688

jeff89 · Horse Mullet Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 183

It also helps to give some extra light when paddling out baits down PINS in the middle of the night!
_________________
Fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.
[img]https://giphy.com/embed/sFMEZ1ZFToyha[/img]

Jellyfish · Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:15 am Post subject:

workinbird · Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject:

No! It's not related to red tide. The bioluminescence is caused by a species of bacteria that produce light when there are enough of them (a quorum) present in the water. Its a system of response to a stimulus that is directly related to population density. I'm sure that that's going to clear it up for everyone! Smile

<*/)))><

FishinClint · Horse Mullet Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 151

Howdy!

I always attributed the bioluminescence in the surf to dinoflagellates.

Had a frightening experience fishing the Galveston surf one night, by myself, down at San Luis Pass. Was walking a bait out to cast from the sandbar and was in chest deep water in the middle of the gut. Suddenly, about 8 feet away or so, bait started scattering and I could see a glowing cylinder below the surface. It was probably about as big as I am tall. I screamed...or yelled rather..., slapped the water with my surf rod, and turned to run. Felt like I was trying to run through a giant bowl of oatmeal and I bet it was a funny sight. I'm too chicken to walk my baits out after dark now...for the most part.